POLYMERIZATION OF ETHYLENE-OXIDE BY THE ACTIVATED MONOMER MECHANISM

The polymerization of ethylene oxide catalysed by protonic acids and p roceeding via the activated monomer mechanism differs from the polymer izations of substituted epoxides like propylene oxide and epichlorohyd rin. The kinetics of ethylene oxide polymerization were investigated a nd compared with the kinetics of model reactions, namely addition of o ligomers of ethylene oxide to ethylene oxide. The mechanism of polymer ization involves, besides the addition of monomer to the terminal hydr oxyl groups, the addition to the polymer ether groups. This reaction d oes not take place for substituted oxiranes, most probably because of steric hindrance.